System and Method for Customizing Programming Reminders

• US 20080163305A1
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Published: 07/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/09/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Original Assignee: Thomson Licensing (Vantiva SA)
• Inventors: Randall, Darrel Wayne, Johnson, Carolynn Rae
• Application Number:
  US10/591,376
• Publication Number:
  US 20080163305A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 725/58
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4532 involving end-user characteristics, e.g. viewer profile, preferences monitoring of user activities for profile generation for accessing a video database G06F16/739; user profiles in network data switching protocols H04L67/306; processing of user preferences or user profiles in wireless networks H04W8/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47214 for content reservation or setting reminders; for requesting event notification, e.g. of sport results or stock market stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services over packet-switching network H04L12/1859; notification of incoming messages in packet switching networks H04L51/224
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/485 End-user interface for client configuration
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4882 for displaying messages, e.g. warnings, reminders arrangements for providing short real-time information to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1895
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 7/163 by receiver means only

Abstract

A system and method for permitting users to control and customize program reminders for reminding the user of desired upcoming television programming event(s) is disclosed. A reminder customizer is provided having reminder options which permit users to control on which device(s) a reminder is desired to appear.

Claims

1. A method for customizing a reminder for a programming event comprising the steps of:

providing a reminder customizer on a first instrument, wherein the reminder customizer includes a reminder options feature, which permits a user to indicate at least one of a plurality of devices on which the reminder is to appear.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a second instrument, said second instrument being in communication with said first instrument, wherein said at least one indicated device on which the reminder is to appear is operably connected to said second instrument.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the reminder customizer further includes a customizable auto-tune feature which permits the user to specify that the programming event for which the reminder is created is automatically tuned to at a designated time and date and on a desired device.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein if the user does not indicate the device on which the reminder is to appear, further comprising the step of activating a default mode.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the default mode is customizable by the user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one of a television, PDA, computer, cellular phone and landline phone.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first instrument, comprises a receiver.

8. A method for customizing a reminder for a programming event comprising the steps of:

providing a reminder customizer on a set top box;

providing a user interface for interactive communication with said reminder customizer, said user interface providing a reminder options feature to permit a user to indicate at least one of a plurality of devices, capable of displaying the programming event, on which the reminder is to appear.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of providing a second instrument, said second instrument being in communication with said set top box, wherein said selected device on which the reminder is to appear is operably connected to said second instrument.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the reminder customizer further includes a customizable auto-tune feature which permits the user to specify that the programming event for which the reminder is created is automatically tuned to at a designated time and date and on a desired device.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein if the user does not indicate the device on which the reminder is to appear, further comprising the step of activating a default mode.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the default mode is customizable by the user.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the device comprises at least one of a television, PDA, computer, cellular phone and landline phone.

14. An apparatus for customizing a reminder for a programming event comprising:

a reminder customizer which includes a reminder options feature for permitting a user to select at least one device for displaying a reminder at that device; and

a controller for controlling coupling of a decoded signal to at least one device in accordance with the user-selected reminder options.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, further comprising a decoder for providing the decoded signal from an input signal.

16. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the reminder customizer further includes a customizable auto-tune feature which permits the user to specify that the programming event for which the reminder is created is automatically tuned to at a designated time and date and on a desired device.

17. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the device comprises at least one of a television, PDA, computer, cellular phone and landline phone.